Can anyone identify this car?

[jimbouk]

Trawling through old family photos, can anyone identify this car? Think the photograph was taken in 1903?



TIA

[Riley Blue]

It's a dog cart but my knowledge of them is sketchy to say the least.

[williamp]

More likely a quadracycle than an actual "car".

The problem you have is back in '03, and old forge would make the a vehi le to the ustomers request with, say a de dion single cylinder engine. It was late 03 when reg numbers started. Before then, nothing was needed

[Allan L]

A semi-educated guess is Benz of around 1900/1902. Star (of Wolverhampton) made the single-cylinder Benz under licence as the Star-Benz and I'll amend the guess to one of those.

[markymarkthree]

Potentially a Stephens car from Clevedon, if the photo is a west country snap.

[nicanary]

It's so small I think it could be one of those little carriages that wealthy people had made for their children which was pulled by a small horse, but has been converted to be ICE-powered.

[tapkaJohnD]

Handlebar steering, complete with bell!

Could that be a clue? Early 'car' constructors who moved on from building bikes?

[jimbouk]

Thank you all, some really useful thoughts…

The cycling element could well be particularly relevant.

If I zoom out to the full picture



If my research is correct,

The chap second from the left David Robertson competed in 1908 Olympics in two cycling categories, and the chap (my great grand father) second from right is Arthur Robertson also a keen cyclist, but following a cycling accident took to running, also competed in 1908 Olympics, winning both a gold and silver medal. Oh and a Weatherspoons being named after him

They went on to run a cycling shop in Peterborough,

Sadly none of the athletic prowess has survived the generations

Top tip, listen to your grandparents stories….. there is no one to ask when they are gone….

[Willhire89]

The car is an 1899 Rouxel





The donkey work here was done by the research team of the Veteran Car Club.....I am just the messenger

Edited by Willhire89 on Tuesday 9th August 22:24

[Riley Blue]

Great detective work by the VCC!

[crofty1984]

That dog's probably dead now.

[Om]

crofty1984 said:

That dog's probably dead now.

I am sure the VCC worked as quickly as they could.

It was never like this in the Lassie movies.

[RDMcG]

Brilliant bit of digging -I was sure this would Not be identified .

[Bob CD]

Great bit of research by VCC. Well done to them, and what a lovely story too, involving Olympic athletes and the OP discovering that his family actually imported the car. Wonderful stuff.

[MDMA .]

The picture on the brochure also seems to be the same location as the OP’s photograph.

[nicanary]

Rouxel was formed on 4 August 1899 and dissolved on 22 December 1899 !

[Riley Blue]

MDMA . said:

The picture on the brochure also seems to be the same location as the OP’s photograph.

That's not all that's the same.